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SpeechesInvesting in Higher Education is Investment in Pennsylvania's Future
Graham B. Spanier
Good morning and welcome to Penn State and to this important conference on Creating Pennsylvania's Future. This two-day summit promises to offer some thought-provoking sessions on how all segments of Pennsylvania's communities can contribute to the economic improvement of the Commonwealth and to the improvement of our quality of life. December 5, 2005 We are honored to have with us many distinguished speakers and national leaders in the areas of higher education, technology, economic development, and workforce initiatives. It is our hope, as partners in hosting this event, that we can generate a greater awareness of opportunities and resources available, and stimulate collaborative efforts that will benefit Pennsylvania and its people. As president of Penn State, I am keenly aware of the unique role that higher education plays in the development of human capital and in the creation of new knowledge. Pennsylvania has an abundance of higher education institutions -- all with the ability to address the challenges of economic and community development. Over the centuries, universities have laid the foundation for industries such as biotechnology, computing, telecommunications, and manufacturing, producing discoveries that have benefited every American. We have produced millions of leaders and professionals, and have advanced society in ways unimagined at our founding. Institutions of higher education are key stakeholders in the state's economy, and I firmly believe there is no other American enterprise that offers such enormous potential for improving the quality of life. There is no greater contributor to economic development, no better place to encourage innovation or discovery, no endeavor that plays a more pivotal role in influencing generations of leaders, no enterprise more closely linked to our future success, and no place superior in its commitment to the common good. In fact, at Penn State public service is part of our mission. We take this charge very seriously and are constantly looking for ways to partner with other universities, government agencies, business, and industry. This summit brings together all of the partners needed to work on some of the problems facing Pennsylvania. A large part of our missions is to educate the highly skilled workers of tomorrow and encourage them to stay. An analysis of U.S. Census data projects an increase of people with less than a high school education through 2020. There will be a severe mismatch between educational attainment of young workers and the escalating knowledge and skill requirements of the new economy. Over the last decade, Pennsylvania lost more young workers than any other state, according to a report from the Brookings Institution. The report goes on to say that Pennsylvania lacks the population dynamics fundamental to flourishing economies. This "brain drain," as it is usually called, is a challenge to Pennsylvania, since we are producing educated and skilled citizens who must leave for other states due to a lack of adequate jobs. The Brookings Institution report calls for Pennsylvania to make investment in education and workforce training a priority. It also calls for larger investments in medical facilities (like Penn State's Hershey Medical Center) that will help fuel economic expansion. More businesses and jobs will result in more economic expansion and more tax revenues -- a "brain gain" rather than "brain drain." In addition, beyond educating and graduating future workers, higher education also must use its resources in support of economic development, demonstrating for the general public and legislators the tremendous return on their "investment" that is possible. For example:
Overall, Penn State also influences an additional $6.9 billion indirectly each year through business services, research commercialization and the activities of alumni -- for a total of more than $13 billion in annual economic impact. Colleges and universities have considerable resources to contribute to the economic, social, and cultural development of our regions. But public engagement means not only putting knowledge and expertise to work on problems our communities face, but also fostering an ongoing dialogue with many groups -- government, businesses, nonprofit agencies -- and a host of others. Engagement is really a two-way street that should impact the university as much as it impacts our partners. It is our hope that these two days of informational sessions and exchanges will help all participants move away from what has sometimes been seen as just rhetoric, to actually building partnerships and identifying opportunities for academic engagement that are mutually beneficial. Let's open the doors of collaboration and discover what combining our resources can do to keep the Commonwealth competitive and thriving. |
